CJ Cansino is set to embark on a new journey in his basketball career.
The former University of the Philippines (UP) star, who concluded his collegiate career in the UAAP last Season 86, is one of the over 60 aspirants in the 2024 PBA Rookie Draft on Sunday, July 14.
“Wala na talaga akong playing years sa UAAP eh, so ito na talaga ‘yung next step sa career ko. Kailangan ko na talagang magpa-draft,” said Cansino, who also played for the University of Santo Tomas, on the sidelines of Day 1 of the Season 49 Draft Combine in the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
“Happy naman, and sobrang fulfilling ng experience dito, kasi syempre, pangarap namin ‘to nung bata pa lang, so sobrang fulfilling,” added the 6-foot-2 guard, while also revealing that it was already in his plans to enter the PBA before he played hoops in the MPBL.
“Before naman ako mag-MPBL, talagang magpapa-draft na ako. Ginamit ko lang ‘yung MPBL para sa experience at magamit ko for PBA,” he admitted.
Before he played with the Iloilo United Royals in the MPBL, Cansino won a championship with the Fighting Maroons, and also had three UAAP finals appearances.
These, he said, will be beneficial when he steps foot on the PBA hardwood.
“Syempre, ‘yung [winning] mentality. Alam ko kung paano maglaro ng championship [games], and naranasan ko mag-champion, so ‘yun ‘yung madadala ko sa PBA,” said Cansino, who also bared the things that he still needs to improve on.
“It’s more on pagiging mature, ‘yung maturity ng game ko. Mas kailangan kong magbasa, kasi knowing itong PBA, lahat ‘to magagaling eh. Piling pili ‘to eh. So kailangan kong mas maging mature,” he said. “Then siguro ‘yung consistency at ‘yung sa katawan ko, mag-a-add pa ako ng weight.”
Cansino is also looking forward to competing with his UAAP peers Mark Nonoy and RJ Abarrientos.
“Looking forward akong makalaban si RJ eh. Isang taon ko lang siya nakalaban sa college. And syempre, iba ‘yung madadala niya sa PBA dahil nga meron siyang experience [sa] international,” he said.
“Mas gugustuhin ko siguro maging kakampi si Mark Nonoy. Alam ko kung paano siya maglaro, so mas okay sa akin kung maging magkakampi ulit kami.”
If he can choose a team to play for, Cansino said it would be with his childhood squad — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
“Dream team ko lang Ginebra eh, so if ever, sana Ginebra,” he revealed.
“Kasi family ko, Ginebra fan talaga. Bata pa lang ako, nanonood na kami ng PBA, at Ginebra talaga ‘yung team namin,” added the former Fighting Maroon, whose idol is Ginebra star Scottie Thompson.
“Iba pa rin ‘pag nasa Ginebra ka eh. Knowing Ginebra, ‘yung mga fans ng Ginebra, iba talaga eh.”
But while Cansino, whose arsenal boasts scoring and three-point shooting, hopes to play for the perennial crowd darlings, he said that he is open to playing for any of the 12 squads in the league.
“Pero any team naman sa akin, wala namang problema, any team or any coach,” said CJ.
He is even open to reuniting with his former University of Santo Tomas coach, the Converge FiberXers’ Aldin Ayo.
“Basta mabigyan lang ako ng opportunity, kaya kong magtrabaho at mag-adjust. Kay Coach Aldin naman, okay naman na kami, wala naman kaming problema,” he ended. (ABS-CBN News)